Training videos are the backbone of modern workforce development, with 65% of employees remembering visual information compared to just 10% from text-based materials.

A 2024 study revealed that organizations using tailored training videos saw a 24% increase in productivity and a 31% reduction in onboarding time compared to traditional methods.

Being in the business of creating training videos, We’ve seen first-hand how high-quality training videos can affect employee performance and company culture.

Making a great training video isn’t just about hitting “record” and putting some content together. Video training takes a lot of thought, planning, and strategy. 

We’ll walk you through on how to create training videos for employees that resonate with them, enhance their learning experience, and ultimately, drive better results for your organization.

Benefits of Training Videos for Employees

Before diving into the how, let’s first quickly explore why training videos are so crucial for today’s workforce.

1. Cost-Effective and Scalable: Training videos are scalable, which is one of their biggest advantages. There’s no extra cost for reusing and sharing a video. Unlike in-person training sessions, which need scheduling, travel, and often a dedicated instructor, employees can watch training videos anytime, anywhere.

2. Consistency Across the Board: Every employee gets the same training in the same way every time. Especially for onboarding and compliance training, where precise messaging is essential.

3. Increased Retention and Engagement: It has been proven that people tend to retain information better when it is presented in a visually appealing manner. Your engagement and retention rates will go up when you use video instead of written text.

Step 1: Pre-Production – Planning and Preparation

The foundation of any successful training videos for employee lies in meticulous planning. Here’s how to set the stage for success.

Define the Goal of Training Video

It’s important to define the video’s purpose before thinking about its content. What’s the purpose of this employee training video?

In our experience, a common mistake many organizations make is rushing into the video creation process without a clear goal. They focus too much on the production quality or the aesthetics and forget that the video needs to serve a specific function.

Here are some examples of goals you might have:

Onboarding new hires: Educate new employees on company policies, tools, and culture.

Skill development: Teach employees specific tasks or processes they need to perform.

Compliance training: Ensure your team is up-to-date on regulations and compliance issues.

Motivational content: Inspire your employees to go above and beyond.

It is the goal of your video that will determine the tone, the structure, and the depth of the video. In the case of an onboarding video, the tone and pacing will likely be more conversational and welcoming, whereas in the case of a compliance training video, the tone and pacing will be more formal and authoritative.

Know Your Employees

There is no “one-size-fits-all” solution to creating training videos for employees. It is crucial that you understand who your employee is.

We’ve worked with businesses that have a wide variety of employees – different ages, skills, and backgrounds. If you don’t tailor your content to your specific employee set, you’ll end up with disengaged employees who aren’t retaining the information.

Here are few things to consider:

Skill levels: Are your employees new to the topic or are they experienced professionals? The video should meet them at their level.

Learning preferences: Do your employees prefer visual content, or are they more auditory learners? Make use of motion graphics, animations, and voiceovers if needed.

Cultural and language considerations: Especially for companies with global teams, think about language barriers, cultural differences, and time zones.

The more you understand your employee’s needs and preferences, the more likely the video will be effective and engaging for your audience.

Plan and Script the Content

After you know your goal and your audience, it’s time to plan your content. Scripting is where the magic happens, but it is also where a lot of people fail, so that’s why scripting is so crucial.

In the early days of my career, I used to jump straight into shooting without any kind of script, and I would often find myself redoing scenes because they did not flow well or were not clear when I shot them. Don’t make the same mistake. The script is the backbone of your employee training video, so take the time to outline exactly what you want to convey.

Here’s a quick process for scripting:

Introduction: Clearly state what the video will cover and why it’s important. Be concise and grab the viewer’s attention right from the start.

Main Content: Break the content into easily digestible chunks. Focus on one key point per section. If you have to explain a complicated concept, break it down into smaller steps.

Call to Action: End with actionable steps that employees can take after watching the video. Whether it’s completing a task, reviewing a document, or applying the new skill, give them clear instructions on how to proceed.

For example, let’s say you’re creating a employee training video on how to use a new software system. Instead of just showing how to click buttons, you might:

• Conclude with how employees can get further help if needed.
• Explain why the software is important (relating it to employee productivity)
• Walk through the login process
• Explain how to perform key functions with a step-by-step demonstration
• Provide troubleshooting tips

Step 2: Production – Filming and Animation

It is at this point in the process that the magic happens – turning your carefully crafted plans into a tangible product.

Filming Live Action: If you are going to shoot live action, you will need to pay close attention to lighting, audio, and framing. If your lighting is properly set up, your subject will appear clear and professional, while good sound quality will prevent distractions from taking place. I’ve seen many videos ruined by poor sound, so investing in a quality microphone can make all the difference.

For example, when we shot an onboarding video for a client, we used natural light and added some softbox lights to fill in shadows. As a result, the video felt warm and welcoming, mirroring the company culture.

If you’re looking for a spokesperson to help explain in front of camera. Then check out Motionplay Studio. We’ve helped many brands craft spectacular training videos for employees and boost employees’ productivity.

Animation: According to a study by Vista Learning, engaging visuals can increase retention rates by as much as 65% which is way higher than a normal video. 

Animated videos are excellent for simplifying complex concepts. An animation can be a great tool for explaining abstract concepts or simply adding some flair to your video. 

One example of this would be an animated explainer video for employee training, where we used visuals to break down complex technical jargon into digestible pieces. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, as employees could grasp concepts faster and more effectively.

Screencasting: If you’re going to teach software or step-by-step procedures then screencasting is a must. Tools like Camtasia or Loom allow you to record your screen while explaining actions. But for a better edited screencast video check out Motionplay Studio.

Production Techniques That Don’t Break The Budget

We understand that not every company has six figures budget for training video production. Here are practical approaches at different budget levels:

Low-Budget Option: Screen recordings with voiceover can be extremely effective for software training. Tools like Camtasia or ScreenPal make this accessible to anyone. Add simple animations to highlight key points.

Mid-Range Option: Combine stock footage, simple motion graphics, and professional voiceover. This approach works well for concept-based training like compliance or soft skills. If you’re looking for help with this you can contact us at Motionplay Studio.

Higher-Budget Option: For high-stakes training (safety, technical procedures), invest in custom footage showing your actual workplace environment. Seeing familiar settings dramatically increases application of learning.

Step 3: Post-Production – Editing and Final Touches

The real work starts after filming. Video editing is what gives your video shape and makes it easy for employees to consume.

Trim Footage and Add Transitions: Keep the pacing tight and engaging by cutting out unnecessary parts. Don’t let employees get bored, so edit ruthlessly. Make transitions seamless so the viewer knows what to expect next. Too many transitions can be distracting, so I recommend using them sparingly.

Visuals and Text Overlays: You can reinforce key points with graphics and text. It’s especially important when you’re highlighting instructions or numbers. You can use infographics to explain abstract data, for instance.

Voiceovers, Music, and Subtitles: A clear voiceover will convey the message in a conversational tone, while music will keep viewers entertained. Make sure subtitles are included, especially for employees who may have hearing issues or want to read along.

Step 4: Best Practices for High-Impact Training Videos (according to Brain Science)

The following are a few tips I’ve learned over the years that will help you make your training videos more effective.

1. The 6-Minute Rule: Studies from MIT show that engagement drops dramatically after 6 minutes. Break complex topics into multiple short videos rather than one long one. 

Keep It Short and Action-Driven. Aim for videos that are under 6 minutes long. Videos that are shorter keep the audience engaged and help them retain information.

2. Use Real-Life Scenarios: Use examples from real life whenever possible. By doing this, the content becomes more relatable. For example, if you’re explaining customer service protocols, show an actual employee walking through a customer interaction.

3. Cognitive Load Management: Our working memory can only handle about 3-4 new concepts simultaneously. Introduce concepts gradually, with visual metaphors to support verbal explanations.

4. Ensure Accessibility: Don’t forget to add closed captions to your videos, translate your videos into multiple languages, and make your content accessible to all your staff, no matter what their background may be.

Final Thoughts

Training Videos for employees is not just about sharing information; it’s about creating an experience. This will help you create training videos that inspire and engage employees, helping them perform better. 

A well-done training video can have a significant impact on how an organization’s employees perceive and learn. 

If you’re looking for expert’s help in creating training videos for employees that deliver real-results, then Our team at Motionplay Studio is dedicated to bringing your vision to life with creativity and precision, ensuring your training videos are not only educational but also enjoyable and memorable.